At Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh, the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip was used by the Indian air force day for operations. Combat and High-Density Altitude (HDA) missions were successfully completed with Low Overshoots by Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets and Hawk advanced jet trainers. The IAF creates ELFs in several states, including five in Assam, four in West Bengal, and three in each of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
The Indian air force day has declared another stretch of National Highway-16 in Andhra Pradesh an ELF for the operation of supersonic fighter jets and transport aircraft in response to the requirement for more airstrips for military use.
Monday saw the successful execution of Low Overshoots by Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets and Hawk advanced jet trainers, as well as the landing and takeoff of AN-32 and Dornier transport aircraft at the ELF airstrip near Adanki in the Bobbili district.
According to a senior officer, these strengthened-cement concrete (‘strengthened cement concrete’) ELF airstrips on national highways or expressways can help with emergency landings, human assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions in remote areas, and even conducting operations during conflicts.
Following instructions from the Indian air force day (IAF), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) built a 33-meter-wide by 4.1-kilometer airstrip on NH-16. As part of military campaigns, the Indian Air Force has designated this as the fourth ELF.
There are nine in Rajasthan, four in West Bengal, three in Andhra Pradesh, and five in Assam. There are also one each in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, two in Bihar, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu.
During the wars in 1965 and 1971, the Pakistan air force day bombed our airfields, destroying some of our fighter jets.
Using mobile air traffic, radar control, refueling, and weapon-loading facilities, ELF can enable uninterrupted aerial operations during such emergencies. The officer added that they can also be used for temporary lighting during night operations.
Wing Commander Ashish Moghe, a spokesman for the Indian air force day said that the activation of ELF on NH-16 has shown a high degree of coordination and contact between the IAF, state police, district administration, and other civil agencies for the execution of intricate multifaceted campaigns.
Previously, in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, and Jaguar fighter jets, along with Garud Commandos and a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, carried out their first operations on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. Additionally, a 3.3-kilometer ELF is being built alongside the Purvanchal Expressway.
Numerous other nations, including Pakistan, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, and Switzerland In case of emergencies or during a war, Poland and Singapore have designated specific sections of their highways and expressways for airplanes to take off and land.
The Indian air force day provided the specifications, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) built an airstrip measuring 4.1 kilometers in length and 33 meters in width.In order to carry out intricate, multifaceted operations, it demonstrated the “high level of synergy and liaison” between civil agencies such as the Indian Air Force, state police, district administration, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The NHAI built the concrete airstrip, which is 4.1 km long and 33 m wide, in accordance with the IAF’s specifications.According to a statement from the government, the Emergency Landing Facility airstrips improve air operations’ flexibility in emergency situations and are very useful for providing disaster relief and humanitarian aid in remote locations.
While some airstrips are already in use throughout the nation, the Andhra Pradesh ELF is a relatively new addition to the peninsula.
The statement also stated that An-32 and Dornier transport planes landed and then took off from the strip, and that the Su-30 and Hawk fighters executed successful overshoots during the activation.
PRO Shillong from the Ministry of Defence shared several videos of the activation and posted them on X boosting readiness and encouraging greatness! An Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on National Highway 16 close to Addanki in the Bapatla district was the site of operations on March 18, 2024, by @IAF_MCC fighter & transport aircraft.
